Crews Get Upper Hand on Oregon Forest Fire

September 14, 2011 by Justin Leighty
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Pink portion shows the perimeter of the Shadow Lake fire, which has already burned 10,000 acres in central Oregon. Map courtesy of KVAL-TV.

Campgrounds and trails closed by the Shadow Lake fire in central Oregon are open or will be open by the weekend, public land managers said.

The fire remains at approximately 10,000 acres with 35% containment, KVAL-TV, Eugene, reported.

“We are striving to get visitors back into the forest as quickly as safe conditions will allow,” said Willamette Forest Supervisor Meg Mitchell.

Ice Cap Creek, Coldwater Cove and Clear Lake campgrounds are all open on the Willamette National Forest

The upper McKenzie River National Scenic Trail and Clear Lake Resort are set to open by this weekend.

Businesses have remained open in the surrounding McKenzie corridor and Sisters area throughout the fire.

The Deschutes and Willamette National Forest still have area closures in effect but are assessing potential opportunities to shrink the closed area.

Visitors are urged to check the forest websites or contact the Sisters Ranger District (541-549-7701) or the McKenzie Ranger District (541-822-3381) for a list of roads and hiking trails open for use.

Forest visitors are urged to stay out of the burned areas until spring due to extreme hazards from burning stump holes and falling snags.

The fire, which had grown from a few hundred to almost 10,000 acres in the course of a few weeks, has calmed down as cooler, moister and calmer weather moved into the area this week.

Some pockets of unburned fuel could pose a threat to fire lines if dry conditions were to return, but current weather conditions should give firefighters the upper hand in controlling the blaze, fire bosses said.